818 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 446

this State, by posting a copy of said notice in writing or print-
ing in front of the property of the person to be notified, and
on account of which the adjusters have returned that said per-
son shall pay a part of the expenses of said improvement, and
also at some hotel or public place in Pocomoke City at least
twenty days before the day appointed for such appearance and
answer. All persons notified in any of the modes herein men-
tioned shall be bound by an order of assessments which may
be directed or to be made by the Mayor and Council, whether
they attend or not. On the day appointed in the notice for the
appearance and answer of the parties named in the adjusters'
return such persons may appear, and whoever appears shall be
heard, and upon and after such hearing the Mayor and Council
shall make decision as to the person who shall contribute to
the expense thereof and as to the proportion in which the sev-
eral persons shall pay, and the Mayor and Council shall pass an
order setting forth their decision. Any person assessed to pay
part of the expenses of said improvement may appeal from
such decision of the Mayor and Council at any time within
twenty days to the Circuit Court for Worcester County, but
if no appeal is taken within twenty days the Mayor and Coun-
cil shall arrange for doing the work and furnishing the ma-
terial. They may provide materials and contract for doing the
work or they may contract with the same person for the ma-
terials and work; they may call on two or three persons skilled
in such work to make an offer of terms on which they will do
the work, and they shall accept the bid or offer of the person
who in their judgment will furnish the best material and work
for the least money, or who will do the best work on the most
moderate terms. Upon the completion of the work the Mayor
and Council shall examine it and shall hear complaints, if
any be made, within ten days after the work has been com-
pleted; after ten days they may accept the same. Controver-
sies with the contractor may be settled by submitting the mat-
ters in question to referees chosen in the usual manner, or
the contractor or claimant may be left to his action at law, but
in the meantime the public may use the improvement. After
the work has been accepted the persons who are liable to pay
for the same shall not be entitled to set up any defects in the
work or material as a ground for exempting them from paying
their contribution. As soon as the work has been accepted, or
as soon as any dispute is settled by arbitration or suit at law,
the Mayor and Council, upon their previous order fixing the
proportion which each person liable to pay shall contribute,